Chapter 252



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“Stella hasn’t eaten yet. Take her out to get something to eat.” Hayden confided Stella to Benjamin, “I have an appointment with someone and I’ll be back later.”

“Okay.” Benjamin nodded, “Hayden, who did you have an appointment with?”

Hayden paused for a moment. “Addison.”

In an outdoor cafe, the iron tables and chairs had a strong French feel. Maple leaves on the branches in early autumn showed that the weather in N City was slowly cooling down.

Addison Sanchez was wearing a beige suit and drinking coffee. She looked very elegant, just as she had the first time they met, when others had thought her a spoiled brat at first glance.

Hayden looked around when she arrived.

“Here.” Addison’s voice sounded from a position near the courtyard wall.

Hayden looked up and saw Addison waving.

Hayden walked over and sat down.

“I ordered you a caramel macchiato, black forest cake and a salad, is that okay?”.

“Thank you.” Hayden nodded weakly, “You said you had something to talk to me about, what’s it about?”.

Hayden didn’t think she knew Addison well enough to have lunch together. Not to mention, they had just come from an awkward lunch.

Addison pursed her lips. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m here for you, not like last time. I apologize for being rude to you back then.”

She sounded sincere, but Hayden felt it was meant as a provocation. “That won’t be necessary. Now you have what you want, I don’t think saying such words at this time is an apology, but rather sarcasm.”

“It isn’t.” Explained Addison, “I have safely given up on Joseph. We are really only like brothers. I wish you two could reconcile, like old times. I hope my appearance didn’t shock you too much.”

It was so ridiculous to hear.

Hayden frowned, “Miss Sanchez, are you kidding me? I don’t have time for this.”

“I’m serious. After some time, I will be transferred back to the headquarters in France and my parents will also come to France with me. It is possible that I will rarely come back.”

Hayden was a little puzzled looking at Addison’s expression, as she didn’t seem to be lying. “You’re going back to France? So, what about your marriage?”.

How was it possible that Harrison would allow Joseph to go to France with Addison? If Joseph wasn’t following her, what would they be married for? Would they have a long-distance relationship?

“Marriage is fake.” Addison smiled, “Joseph asked me to do him the favor of being his shield against Harrison. If I guess correctly, Joseph would have fessed up about the engagement when Harrison mentioned it.”

Hayden was stunned to hear her.

Joseph’s marriage to Addison was actually a lie?

“How so?”

How could someone like Joseph use such a trick to deceive Harrison?

“It’s true.” Addison pulled a paper bag out of her purse, placed it on the table and pushed it in front of Hayden, “Since I found out something, I don’t think there’s much chance of me trying to intervene you two. But I’m a little curious and I want to find out everything.”

Hayden froze, as he pulled the document out of the paper bag under Addison’s gaze. Hayden’s expression changed abruptly when he saw the word ‘[paternity test]’ written on it.

“Before, I didn’t understand why you were so devoted to Joseph’s son. Now I understand.” Addison’s voice came from across the table.

Immediately, Hayden felt a chill, as things happened too suddenly. At first she thought that this secret was well kept and that no one would know as long as she didn’t tell.

“But I still want to know for you. What is the relationship between your daughter, your son, Joseph and you, and what happened?”.

Hayden clutched the document, she was pale, feeling tense. Finally she calmed down, “Does Joseph know?”

Addison shook her head, “I didn’t tell him because I wasn’t sure what the consequences would be if I told him what I knew.”

“How much do you know?”

“Just a little. Someone told me that, at the time, Joseph was looking for a surrogate mother to bear him a child to fulfill Harrison’s order to marry and have children. Noah was delivered by that woman and was given to Joseph. But just out of curiosity, if you’re a daughter of the Downey Family how did you become a surrogate mother?”

Until then, Hayden furrowed her brows thoughtfully.

He realized that Addison already knew almost everything. But since Addison hadn’t told Joseph, that meant she had concerns. And Hayden had guessed what Addison’s concerns were.

Hayden stuffed the paternity test report back into the paper bag and resealed it. “Addison, I can satisfy your curiosity. But I want to make sure you can keep what I tell you a secret.”

Addison was startled for a moment, “Keep it a secret? You’re not going to tell Joseph?”

“This is my business.” Hayden looked distant, “If you don’t tell Joseph, I can keep your secret for you too.”

“What secret do I have?” Addison frowned.

“The truth about the fire.”

Hearing this, Addison’s face paled instantly. “You…”

“I got to the bottom of it a week after the fire, but I didn’t say anything.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“It’s not a threat, it’s an exchange. I don’t think you came to me today just because of our friendship, giving me this and worrying about my personal feelings.” Hayden fumbled in the paper bag, looking distant as he spoke, “Since you brought it up, there must be a reason. You can tell me what you want me to do.”

“I just…” Addison furrowed her eyebrows and finally opened her mouth, “Fine. I admit I’m a little selfish, but my selfishness is harmless to you. I think it’s in our common interest why I came to you. If not, I can tell Joseph.”

Hayden was speechless, looking at Addison blankly.

“Let’s put it this way, I knew nothing about this at first, I thought you and Joseph were in an ordinary romantic relationship. As for these affairs between the two of you, someone told me on purpose.”

“Who?” Hayden frowned. Other than the housekeeper at the time, he couldn’t think of anyone else who knew about this incident.

“Violet Kidman.”

Hearing this, Hayden’s expression changed. “Violet?”

Since Joseph and Hayden had been engaged in a relationship, Violet had disappeared. Hayden hadn’t seen much of her for almost half a year. And the last time Hayden had encountered her was at a party in S-Town, watching her from afar.

Did Violet really know about what happened six years ago? And did she tell Addison about it?

“And about the fire, she was the one who planned it. I later found out I was used by her.”

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